NEED TRANNY HELP!!

[lee]

If water mixes with transmission fluid it will become very light pink in color.

[jleger98]

If there is water in there, it would settle to the bottom, right? Or does it actually mix with the ATF?

Would it be better to pump it all out or to use the lower cooling hose to drain the fluid out?

[lee]

It would mix with the fluid. You can pump out the fluid and refill with the amount you pumped out, if the level is good to start with.

[jleger98]

I talked with Rich at SKIDIM.com - Those guys are great! - He thought that instead of water, it was probably some 20wt oil that someone put in there. Not sure why.

I'm going to go to the lake tonight and pump out and fill that thing 3x, then test it to see if it still slips. I'll post what I find later tonight.

[jleger98]

Pulled the old fluid out tonight, and ran 3 quarts through it by filling, running, pumping out, filling running etc.

Granted I didn't have the ballast I had last time out, but I could not get it to slip even in really hard corners. I got it to cavitate a little in a hard right turn, but I think thats normal.

Anyway, after I drove it pretty darn hard, I checked the fluid and saw a few bubbles. it was not frothy by any means.

Should I be concerned about a few bubbles? I don't want to spend the $$ on a new cooler if I don't have to.

Thoughts?

[dogbert]

Originally posted by jleger98
Pulled the old fluid out tonight, and ran 3 quarts through it by filling, running, pumping out, filling running etc.

Granted I didn't have the ballast I had last time out, but I could not get it to slip even in really hard corners. I got it to cavitate a little in a hard right turn, but I think thats normal.

Anyway, after I drove it pretty darn hard, I checked the fluid and saw a few bubbles. it was not frothy by any means.

Should I be concerned about a few bubbles? I don't want to spend the $$ on a new cooler if I don't have to.

Thoughts?

I think you're ok as long as it doesn't look like a milkshake.

[jleger98]

Thats good to hear. THANK YOU to everyone for your help and advice.

What a great bunch of Tige Owners!!

[spharis]

So is the fluid holding up, or is it starting to discolor again?

[jleger98]

I've got about 7-8 hours on it since then and it is rock solid. No slips, color looks good. So I think that was it.

[spharis]

The reason I was asking is because I chenged my tranny fluid yesterday. I have been burning some engine oil, or so I thought. It looks like I may have a leak into the transmission from the engine, but I don't even know if that's a possibility. Has anyone ever had their engine leak oil into the transmission? My fluid was red, but had an orangish tint to it, almost like it was burned, and was a little high on the dipstick; however nearly anytime you check a tranny in 90+ temps it seems a little high.

[jleger98]

What year/make/marinization? How long has it been since you are certain it was changed.....I've found out some shops MAY not always change it even though they say they do.

AFAIK, the only place you can get a leak from the engine to the tranny is via the engine seal. I think if that were the case you would have a noticable leak in your bilge. Also, your tranny would slip because you would have fluid on or near the clutch assembly.....While I personally doubt this is the case....anyone else jump in here, cause I'm no expert.....I would be more likely to think that you have some burned fluid. Does it smell burned? My guess is that if its a little high when running, or cold in 90 heat, you have too much fluid in there. The best way to measure is after the motor is warmed up, on the water. Shut the motor off and check the level right away. That should tell you if you are running high or not. otherwise, just keep an eye on it.

[kko]

ok first no clutch invovled here so fluid leaking on "clutch " and slipping not going to happen. now it will slip if it gets low. if fluid comes out from bell housing where it meets the back of engine it could be the rear main seal of engine or it could be the input shaft seal of the trans. you need to detirmine wich fluid is leaking for sure. or you could pull the tranny and bellhousing out and replace both seals. ive seen lots of 80s models mc&cc that the input shafts rust up and cut the seals make the tranny leak. the shaft is outrageous $$$$$$ but they sell a sleave kit that works great. what year boat do you have and with what motor/tranny? oh there is no way for the engine oil to get into the tranny fluid but the rear main seal leak will leak oil into bellhousing making it look like its comming out of trans leaking in to blidge. do you have fluid in bidge?

[spharis]

My bilge is clean as a *insert favorite simile here*.

I didn't know if there was a seal between the engine and the tranny that would allow for fluid transfer. Supposedly my fluid was changed before I bought the boat this past summer, but who knows. The first time I looked at it the shop that did the work had hooked the carb linkage up to where the secondaries could mechanically not open. Had I not known anything about mechanicing, I wouldn't have even caught it. Anway........I'll be keeping an eye on my fluid over the remainder of the season.

BTW '97 2002 5.7 and the velvet drive tranny.

[jleger98]

kko, thanks for the correction. I think you said what I was trying to say. If the rear seal is gone, yes, fluid would only leak into the bellhousing.

I stand corrected.